Just call me Brandy the Bookwork

Reading is something I loved to do when I was younger and for the longest time I put my love for reading aside to focus on growing a family.  Now that my kids are a little older (no longer babies) I have a little more time on my hands so I decided start reading again.  After asking around and getting recommendations I got my list made and began my new journey.  Here are a few books I have read and my personal ratings of each book.  Each book was giving a star rating... * I hated it, ** I didn't like it, *** I thought it was O.K., **** I really liked it, ***** I loved it! 

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers... *****  loved this book, made me laugh, cry... I felt truly connected to each character.  Excellent book and very well written.

Redemption (book #1) by Karen Kingsbury *** Good book, but rather on the sad and dismal side.  Although it had a somewhat sad storyline it did leave me feeling as though I needed to finish the rest of the books in this series.

The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers **** This was a really great story of love, finding love in Christ and renewed love in one self.  One of those books that makes you feel really connected to the characters.  Wonderful book with a genuine and rich storyline.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho ** A fable about following your dreams.  Not one of my favorite books. A book written in Spanish but translated in English... felt alot of storyline was a bit "lost in translation"

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan **** I really liked this book.  Story of a young Chinese girl and her journey through life with her lifelong friend... aka laotong.  A definite recommended read!

Everything you wanted to know about me

I was reading a dear friend's blog recently and came across a survey she did... sort of one of those "get to know me" kind of surveys.  I thought it would be fun to do my own. 


1. WAS I NAMED AFTER ANYONE?  Brandy is a liquor and was my birth mother's beverage of choice (yuck) and my middle name Lee was my birth mother's childhood best friend's middle name.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME I CRIED?  I don't remember

3. DO I LIKE MY HANDWRITING? Most of the time

3. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Mesquite smoked turkey

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Yes, two kids

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?  I would think so

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Who me??? why yes I do on occasion. 

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?  Absolutely not.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Cocoa Pebbles (although I never eat it)

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? No

12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Godiva Chocolate from Cold Stone Creamery

13. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Eyes & mouth

14. RED OR PINK? Pink

15. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My weight

16. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My best friend Kim

17. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE ELSE TO PUT THIS ON THEIR BLOG?  Sure, it's fun
18. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black

19. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Chicken salad from Chick-fil-A

20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? My hubby reading my son a bedtime story

21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Fuscha

22. FAVORITE SMELL? Fresh laundry, Christmas Cookie Yankee Candle, Babies

23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Husband's niece
24. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?  She is a sweet & dear friend

25. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Anything sports my kids play

26. HAIR COLOR? Light brown

27. EYE COLOR? Brown

28. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No

30. FAVORITE FOOD? It's a toss-up between Mexican, Italian or Thai

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Always Happy Endings

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Traffic

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Black

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Neither - I love the Fall & Spring

35. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs

36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Tiramisu.

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? N/A

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? N/A

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? The Weight of Silence, Tribulation Force & bible study
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Webkinz

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? The Biggest Loser

42. FAVORITE SOUND? A light thunderstorm, Baby laughter & cooing, sounds of the forest

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? ? Neither

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Puerto Penasco, Mexico

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I can identify just about any american and even some foreign vehicles by make & model if they were manufactured after 1985 just by looking at the body of the vehicle (Cool ...yes I know)

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Fort Benning, GA

47. WHOSE ANSWERS AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO READING? Yours

In His Daddy's Shoes

Just a quick glimpse of Caleb... literally in his daddy's shoes

Catch me if you can.............

Whoa! My last blog came wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy back in August... guess that means I have severely neglected my blog. It's a new year so I need to get with the program!!!

.... and away we go!

August is back to school time and my little girl has started the 4th grade. WOW! She is growing up so fast before our very eyes. Megan you are so very bright, inquisitive and intelligent. We are so proud of the young lady you are becoming. We pray everyday that God shows you His love and that you are molded to be the young woman we pray for you to be.

The fall season my daughter's U-10 Soccer team went totally undefeated this year! 10-0. Way to go WM Robins! So proud of them. Overall I think they scored 125 goals for the entire season. Simply amazing my friends! Megan scored more goals this season than ever before. She's my shining star for sure. The WM Robins had a very good team and I hope they can continue to shine with their awesome skillz! WORD

We miss you Avery

Our handsome kitty ran away

...on the eve of a hot summer day

Where he wondered, where he went...

No one knows.... perhaps someplace bent.

From first glance at the adoption event..

we fell in love with with your furry face

We never imagined you would put a dent

in our hearts forever.

We will miss you so much Avery.

Dog Days of Summer

Wow... I cannot believe it is already August! So where do I begin. Our summer has been somewhat crazy but definitely memorable. During the month of June we had VBS at our local church which had an Outback Aussi theme. So fun for the kids. Unfortunately Caleb is still too young to attend but his time will come soon enough. Megan really enjoyed "being in God's house" as she calls it and learning new scriptures. On the first day we had the privilege of seeing a few funny looking animals including an albino wallaby, a bearded dragon and a baby croc. What a treat!

For Father's Day I decided I wanted to spend the day with my dad. So we loaded up the car and headed down spend the day celebrating the fathers in my life. My brother came along with my nephew and it was such a sweet day. Celebrating generations of fathers. My husband, my dad and my brother. In honor of them I cooked a wonderful feast. Pork roast slow cooked, roasted herbed potatoes, asparagus, green beans, potato salad, dinner rolls and of course dessert - dark chocolate cake! Yummy. Here are some snapshots of that day,


July was a very busy month for the Johnson family. For the 4th of July weekend we decided to join "The other Johnson's" on a family fun-filled trip to the beach. Myrtle Beach, S.C. We stayed on Ocean Blvd and enjoyed 3 fabulous and beautiful days on the beach. Lots of sand between my toes, relaxing days on the beach and at the pool and some great BBQ on the 4th of July. We enjoyed not one, not two but three fireworks shows on the 4th and let me just say being on the beach at night... the smell of the ocean.... surrounded by family... sipping on a fruity drink... sittin' back watching awesome fireworks.... what more can you ask for? Here are a few snapshots of our vacation on the beach